Life preserver



Sept. 21 1926.

J. H. WILLiAMS LIFE PREsBRvER Filed March 9. 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept.21 1926. 1,600,263

7 J. H, WILLIAMS LIFE PRESERVER Filed March 9, 1925 2 Sheets- Sheet 2at: nug

Patented Sept. 21', 192

UNITED sures TENT 1T0HN'H.7WILLIAMS, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

LIFE "PRESERVEB.

Application filed March 9, 1925. Serial No. 14,223.

Q This invention relates to life preservers and more particularlythattype of life preserve which is worn in collapsible form and quicklyinflated incase of emergency.

, An important object of the invention 1s to provide a life preserve'rwhich may be A.'further object of thei'nven'tion is to -provide alifejpre'server' which is comparatively simple andi'durab'le and efficientfor the purpose intended.

Other objects andadvant'ages of this Invention will be apparent duringthe course of the following description. V In the accompanying drawingsforming a part of this specificatoin and in Which like numerals areemployed to designate 'llke partsthrough't the same,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the assembled device,

Figure 2 is a vertical transverse sectlonal view through the same, VFigure 3 is a rear elevation of the 1nfiating device,

' Figure 4 is a side elevation of the same,

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure41, and f Figure '6 is a vertical sectional view taken on the like 6-6of Figure 3. r

In the drawings, wherein fo the purpose of illustration is shown thepreferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 10 designates thegarment of the life preserver, said garment being adapted to snugly adhere to the figure when deflated and thereby causing little discomfortto the wearer. The material employed in the manufacture of this garmentis of little importance as various materials may successfully be used,such as rubber, rubberizer cloth, or other materials, the object to beattained consisting of a material capable of withstanding the airpressure and also being water-proof. As the jacket must necessarilyconsist of double thickness material, it is therefore necessary toreinforce the edges thereof with reinforcing strips 11 or the like inorder to make said jacket air-tight. A pair of belt retaining straps 12are secured to the side portions of the garment and have a loop 13formedon the bottom thereof to engage a :belt 1 1 which is adapted toembrace the waist of the wearer and retainthe Eli-fe preserver incomfortable position about the body. At the lower portion of the back,the

garment has a connection piece" secured H 'theretofin order to permitattachmentyof the "generating tank 15, which is also secured by the beltthrough the 'medium o fthe :loop 16.

The generating tank 15 is preferably raj;-

tangular in shape. and has a'nipple '17 2 formed on the upper. sectionand extending upwardly therefrom. An internally thread;- ed collar 18 isformed on the sideof the tank and receives the sleeve 19, said sleevehaving a valve seat '20 formed on the rearwardportion-thereof forreceiving-a valve '21. A cylindrical plunger 22 is provided withalongitudinal slot 23 to permit the :plunger to reciprocate within thesleeve 19, a pin 2 1 "fitted in the sleeve 19 adapted to contrdlmovement of the plunger 22 therein. Arranged inwardly of the plunger 22in the sleeve 19 is a partition 24* having an. opening'2 therethro'ughand a valve seat 25 formed at said 'opening' to permit a valve 26 havinga stem 26 extending through the opening 24 to be seated thereon, saidvalve being retained against the seat by a compression spring 27. Asimilar spring, although not required to be so powerful, is employed toforce the valve 21 against its seat until pressure is exerted againstthe inner portion thereof. The plunger 22 has a cross piece 22 thereonat its inner end which is 1 "adapted to engage "the valve stem 26 ftounseat the valve 26 when inward pressure is applied on the plunger 22. Ascreen container 28 is positioned in the lower portion of the tank andsecured to the bottom 29, this compartment being held in position by aswinging bracket 30 which is pivoted at 31, and an adjusting screw 32'which forces .the bottom of this compartment against a gasket 33 placedbetween the bottom member and the sides of the generating tank in orderto prevent any leakage therein. The mesh enclosed compartment 28 isemployed as a housing for the gas gencrating element such as carbide, orthe like and may be removed when necessary to on the valve 21 to unseatthe same as the water will have sufficient pressure to overcome thesmall spring behind the valve 21, thus said water is permitted to reachthe carbide in limited quantities which immediately forms a gas andinflates the entire garment, there being suflicient carbide in thecontainer to form necessary buoyancy to float a person for a greatlength of time.

After usage, the device. is merely cleaned and another supply of carbideor gas forming element placed in the screen compartment and insertedinto the container once more and is ready for operation. The devicecould readily find application inasmuch as it is very compact anddurable and might be easily carried about the person.

It is to be understood that the form ofmy invention herewith shown anddescribed is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and thatvarious changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts may beresorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention, or thescope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I

claim 1. A life preserver of the character described comprising aninflatable garment member, a belt for holding the garment member incontact with the body, means for securing the garment member to thebelt, a gas generatlng container, means for. connecting the container tothe lnflatable gar- VVhen it is desired to ment, and means for retainingthe generating chemical in said container.

2 A life preserver of the character described comprising an inflatablegarment member, looped straps secured to the garment member anddepending therefrom, a belt enveloping the body of the wearer andengaging the looped straps; a gas generat ing container, a nipple formedonthe upper portion thereof forpenetrating the inflatable garment, asleeve member formed in one side of the container, a tube memberthreadedly connected to said sleeve, a valve seated in the tube member,a reciprocating plunger fitted in said tube member, a valve operated bysaid plunger, springs for retainingthe' valves on their seats, a screencontainer positioned in the lower portion of the gas generatingcontainer, and a swinging bracket member for retaining the screencontainer within the generating container.

3. A life preserver of the character described comprising an inflatablegarment member, a belt adapted to be placed around the waist of thewearer, straps for connecting'the garment to the belt, a gas generatingcontainer, a nipple formed on the upper portion of the container,asleeve formed on the up side of said container, a tube threadedlyconnected within saidjsleeve, a valve seated in the extremity of saidtube member, a reciprocating plunger positioned in said tube,

a valve operated by movement of said,

plunger, coil springs for securing the valves against their seats, meansto prevent displacement of the plunger, a screened chemical compartmentpositioned in the lower portion of the container, a swinging bracketmember adapted to retain the screen container within the gas generatingcontainer, and a screw for securely retaining the bottom of thecontainer in position.

In testimony whereof, I have afiixed my signature.

J GEN H. WILLIAMS.

